Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - A Ugandan lawyer has sued President William Ruto at the East African Court of Justice over his decision to sack EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki and replace him with a friendly face.
The lawyer stated that the decision by Kenya to recall the Secretary-General and replace him with another appointee was unlawful.
In his prayers to the court, he sought a permanent injunction imposed on Kenya restraining President William Ruto’s government from nominating another Kenyan national to Mathuki’s position.
In his argument, the lawyer states that this move was in contravention of the EAC treaty which states that "the Secretary-General shall serve a fixed five-year term.”
Additionally, the lawyer faulted Kenya for disregarding the Rule of Law and the Equal Opportunities Doctrine, a fundamental EAC principle.
Article 7(2) of the EAC Treaty sets the rule of law as an operational principle of the community.
As such, the lawyer now wants the regional court to issue an order annulling the decision by Kenya to replace Mathuki.
The lawyer further wants the East African Community Summit, Parliament, and/or Council of Ministers not to implement any decision by Kenya to replace Mathuki.
EAC Court of Justice has further been petitioned to award general, exemplary, punitive, and aggravated damages to the Applicant.
President William Ruto recalled Mathuki from the EAC top seat 1.5 years before his exit.
He had earlier served as a Member of Parliament of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), from 2012 to 2017.
He was subsequently appointed as Kenya’s ambassador to Russia pending approval by the National Assembly.
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